Governor mechanisms

ABSTRACT

A governor mechanism including a plurality of weights which are movable under the action of centrifugal force to urge a sleeve in one axial direction, the weights being located within a housing. The housing includes a cup shaped member in which is located an insert. The insert defines surfaces which guide the movement of the weights under the action of centrifugal force. rThis invention relates to governor mechanism and of the kind including a shaft an axially movable member mounted about the shaft, a cage secured to the shaft, and a plurality of weights which are located and driven by the cage, said weights each having a heel portion defining a pivot surface which bears against a surface defined by the cage and a toe portion which bears against sleeve whereby as the shaft is rotated, centrifugal force acting upon the weights will cause the weights to pivot about said pivot edges to effect axial movement of the sleeve. In known constructions of this type the cage comprises a sheet metal member which is pressed and drawn to a shape which provides housing portions for the weights respectively, each housing portion defining side surfaces which bear against the side surfaces of the weights. The production of the cage presents considerable problems and the object of the invention is to provide a governor mechanism of the kind specified in a simple and convenient form. According to the invention in a governor mechanism of the kind specified, the cage comprises a cup shaped member which is provided with an aperture in its base wall through which the shaft extends, and there is secured within the cup shaped member a generally annular insert having a plurality of inwardly extending projections each of which defines a pair of axially extending surfaces on its opposite sides, the adjacent surfaces on adjacent projections being substantially parallel to each other to define surfaces which locate weights disposed intermediate the projections respectively.

United States Patent 1 1 Peltret 1 Oct. 24, 1972 [54] GOVERNORMECHANISMS FOREIGN PATENTS OR'APPLICATIONS [72] Inven or: Pi rre HenriPeltre L n o En- 1,052,844 9/1953 France ..73/535 gland PrimaryExaminerJames J. Gill 73 A .A.V. L sslgnee (glland muted, Birmm An my-J-lolman & Ste

[22] Filed: Dec. 14, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT PP 97,963 A governor mechanismincluding a plurality of weights which are movable under the action ofcentrifugal [30] Foreign Application Priority a force to urge a sleevein one axial direction, the weights being located within a housing. Thehousing Jan. 1, Great Bl'ltaln includes a cup haped member in is locatedan insert. The insert defines surfaces which guide the U-S. movement ofthe weights under the action of centrifu- [51] Int. Cl. ..G05d 13/06,GOSd 13/14 gal f [58] Field of Search ..73/526, 527, 535,539, 550

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures3,269,193 8/1966 Kleeberger ..73/539 X 3,411,365 11/1968 Roosa ..73/550X PATENTEDOBT24 m2 3,699,816

SHEET 1 OF 2' 7 I \5 AZ INVENTOR Mmgh ATTORNEYS PATENTED um 24 1972 saw2 0r 2 m 32mm) ATzORNE'YS GOVERNOR MECHANISMS This invention relates togovernor mechanism and of the kind including a shaft an axially movablemember mounted about the shaft, a cage secured to the shaft, and aplurality of weights which are located and driven by the cage, saidweights each having a heel portion defining a pivot surface which bearsagainst a surface defined by the cage and a toe portion which bearsagainst sleeve whereby as the shaft is rotated, centrifugal force actingupon the weights will cause the weights to pivot about said pivot edgesto effect axial movement of the sleeve.

In known constructions of this type the cage comprises a sheet metalmember which is pressed and drawn to a shape which provides housingportions for the weights respectively, each housing portion definingside surfaces which bear against the side surfaces of the weights. Theproduction of the cage presents considerable problems and the object ofthe invention is to provide a governor mechanism of the kind specifiedin a simple and convenient form.

According to the invention in a governor mechanism of the kindspecified, the cage comprises a cup shaped member which is providedwithan aperture in its base wall through which the shaft extends, andthere is secured within the cup shaped member a generally annular inserthaving a plurality of inwardly extending projections each of whichdefines a pair of axially extending surfaces on its opposite sides, theadjacent surfaces on adjacent projections being substantially parallelto each other to define surfaces which locate weights disposedintermediate the projections respectively.

One example of a governor mechanism will now be described with referenceto the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows the governor mechanism for a fuel injection pump,

FIG. 2 shows an end view of part of the mechanism of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows an end view of part of the mechanism of FIG. 1 to anenlarged scale, and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing anothe part of the mechanism.

With reference to the drawings the governor mechanism includes a sleevewhich is mounted for axial movement upon a shaft 11. The shaft in use,is driven by the engine with which the pump is associated and the shaftis provided with cams 12 for actuating individual injection pumps 13respectively only one of which is shown. The sleeve 10 through theintermediary of a thrust bearing 14 acts upon a further sleeve 15. Thesleeve 15 is provided with a peripheral groove which is engaged by apair of inwardly directed rollers mounted at one end of a lever 9. Theother end of the lever is pivotally connected to a control rod 8 of theinjection pump. Moreover, a spring 7 is provided which acts on thesleeve 15, and the force exerted by the spring on the sleeve 15 isdetermined by the position of a roller 6 disposed intermediate thespring and an inclined ramp 5.

The governor mechanism also includes a plurality of weights 16. Theweights are provided with heel portions 17 and toe portions 18. The heelportion 17 of each weight defines a pivot surface which bears against afixed member (to be described) and the toe portion of each weight bearsagainst a thrust member associated with the sleeve 10. As the shaft isrotated the weights tend to move outwardly under the action ofcentrifugal force and tend to pivot about the pivot surfaces therebyimposing an axial force upon the sleeve 10 which tends to move thesleeve axially against the action of the spring 7. v

The aforesaid fixed member comprises a cup shaped pressing 19 the wallof the pressing being of generally hexagonal form as FIG. in Figure 3.The-base wall of the pressing is provided with a central aperture 21through which the shaft 11 extends and outwardly spaced from theaperture 21 are three arcuate slots 22. Moreover disposed intermediatethe slots 22 are half pressed portions 23 which project on the oppositeside of the base wall from the wall 20. Moreover, each wall portion ofthe wall 20 is provided with an aperture 24.

The pressing 19 is secured to. a flange 25 formed on the shaft 11 andthe way in which it is secured is such as to provide a resilientconnection."1he flange 25 is provided with three pins 26 having squarehead portions which extend through a back plate 27 shown in FIG. 2 intothe arcuate slots 22. The half pressed portions 23 on the pressingengage within apertures formed in the back plate and this plate is alsoprovided with arcuate slots. Disposed on opposite sides of the pins 26are pairs of resilient pads 28 which are located within the cavitiesdefined by the arcuate slots of the pressing and the back plate. Alsoprovided is a retaining plate 29 which engages with the heads of thepins 26 and which retains the pressing in position. The retaining plate29 is secured in position by means of a circlip 30a. The pads.28 act tocushion the transmission of drive to the pressing 19 from the shaft 1 l.

Mounted within the pressing 19 is an insert 30 (FIG. 4) and this iscomplementary in shape to the wall 20 of the pressing. The axial lengthof the insert is however less than that of the wall of the pressing. Theinsert is formed as a moulding from synthetic resin material such asnylon and on the outer surfaces of the six side wall portions areprovided projections 31 which locate in the apertures 24 of the pressingto retain the insert in position. The inner periphery of the insert isprovided with projections 32 these being disposed at the junctions ofthe side wall portions. Each projection is of hollow triangular form anddefines a pair of axially extending side surfaces 33. The adjacent sidesurfaces 33 of adjacent projections are parallel to each other anddefine guide surfaces which co-operate with the side surfaces of aweight 16 disposed therebetween. The side surfaces act to guide themovement of the weights as they pivot under the action of centrifugalforce. It will be noted that the insert is reinforced by a rib member,furthermore, the periphery of each weight is cut away to allow theweights to move outwardly their maximum extent, and to limit any axialmovement of the weights along the shaft due to an acceleration ordeceleration force which the mechanism may be subjected to.

The pressing 19 being of a simple shape is easy to produce as also isthe insert 30 and the two can be readily assembled together whenrequired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letter Patent is:

tion defining a pivot edge which bears against a surface of the cage anda toe portion which bears against said axially movable member whereby asthe shaft is rotated, centrifugal force will pivot the weights aboutsaid pivot edges to cause axial movement of said member, a generallyannular insert of complementary shape to the peripheral wall locatedwithin the cup shaped member, inwardly extending projections on saidinsert, said projections each having axially extending surfaces on theiropposite sides, the adjacent surfaces of adjacent projections beingsubstantially parallel and defining locating surfaces for weightsdisposed between the projections respectively, and outwardly extendingprojections on the insert which engage within apertures formed in theperipheral wall of the cup shaped member thereby to retain the insertrelative to the member.

2. A governor mechanism as claimed in claim 1 including an internal ribextending between said inwardly extending projections of the insert.

3. A governor mechanism as claimed in claim 2 in which said inwardlyextending projections are defined at the corners of the hexagon and areof hollow triangular form.

4. A governor mechanism as claimed in claim 3including a flange on theshaft, said flange acting to retain the cup shaped member on the shaft.

5. A governor mechanism as claimed in claim 4 including pins on theflange, said pins extending parallel to the axis of the shaft, said pinseach having a portion of square section, slots formed in the base wallof the cup shaped member, said portions being accommodated within saidslots, the pins being engaged with a retaining plate which is located onthe side of the base wall of the cup shaped member remote from theflange, said pins being engaged with said retaining plate, there being afurther plate provided intermediate the base wall of the cup shapedmember and the flange, said further plate being non-rotatably coupled tothe cup shaped member, complementary arcuate slots in said furtherplate, and resilient pads located on opposite sides of each pin in thecavities defined by the arcuate slots, said pads acting to cushion thetransmission of drive to the cup shaped member from the shaft.

1. A governor mechanism comprising a shaft, an axially movable membermounted about the shaft, a cage secured to the shaft, said cagecomprising a cup shaped member the peripheral wall of which is ofgenerally hexagonal form and a base wall through which the shaftextends, a plurality of weights which are located and driven by thecage, said weights each having a heel portion defining a pivot edgewhich bears against a surface of the cage and a toe portion which bearsagainst said axially movable member whereby as the shaft is rotated,centrifugal force will pivot the weights about said pivot edges to causeaxial Movement of said member, a generally annular insert ofcomplementary shape to the peripheral wall located within the cup shapedmember, inwardly extending projections on said insert, said projectionseach having axially extending surfaces on their opposite sides, theadjacent surfaces of adjacent projections being substantially paralleland defining locating surfaces for weights disposed between theprojections respectively, and outwardly extending projections on theinsert which engage within apertures formed in the peripheral wall ofthe cup shaped member thereby to retain the insert relative to themember.
 2. A governor mechanism as claimed in claim 1 including aninternal rib extending between said inwardly extending projections ofthe insert.
 3. A governor mechanism as claimed in claim 2 in which saidinwardly extending projections are defined at the corners of the hexagonand are of hollow triangular form.
 4. A governor mechanism as claimed inclaim 3 including a flange on the shaft, said flange acting to retainthe cup shaped member on the shaft.
 5. A governor mechanism as claimedin claim 4 including pins on the flange, said pins extending parallel tothe axis of the shaft, said pins each having a portion of squaresection, slots formed in the base wall of the cup shaped member, saidportions being accommodated within said slots, the pins being engagedwith a retaining plate which is located on the side of the base wall ofthe cup shaped member remote from the flange, said pins being engagedwith said retaining plate, there being a further plate providedintermediate the base wall of the cup shaped member and the flange, saidfurther plate being non-rotatably coupled to the cup shaped member,complementary arcuate slots in said further plate, and resilient padslocated on opposite sides of each pin in the cavities defined by thearcuate slots, said pads acting to cushion the transmission of drive tothe cup shaped member from the shaft.